Several years ago, Mary Bemis was rummaging through her closet, trying to offload some items on a popular resale site. When she read the labels, she noticed that everything she was selling was made of polyester, a common material used in clothing that is often derived from petroleum. In other words: it is a form of plastic.
“I was pretty shocked,” Bemis, 31, told POPSUGAR. “As I was transitioning to a more plant-based diet and buying more clean beauty and personal care products, it was a shock when my clothes, which stick to my skin all day, made of rather toxic material.”
According to the CFDA Materials Index, polyester is the most widely used fiber in the world, which accounts for about half of the overall yarn market and about 80% of synthetic fibers. In 2016, polyester fiber production is estimated at 52 million tons.
About 15 years ago, the fashion industry began to explore other fabric sources as a solution. Recycled plastic bottles emerged as an early alternative, as more and more brands turned to these materials to meet “sustainable” production quotas. But if recycled plastic bottles become more non-recyclable, will that happen? really considered sustainable?
“We all want to feel good about what we buy and we have all been taught the importance of recycling,” Bemis continued. “So creating a direct link between the material and the sustainability benefits is a very successful strategy for this material. [from recycled plastic bottles] to become very popular. ”
While there may be nothing wrong with buying a product made from recycled plastic bottles, doing so may not be as friendly to the planet as the average consumer believes. The popularity of microplasticsFor example, poses a growing problem to the health of marine life on the ocean floor. Limiting this threat means that society produces and consumes far fewer plastic products, both at the individual and corporate levels.
Furthermore, redirecting plastic bottles to recycling for clothing and accessories poses an unsustainable conundrum, Bemis explains.
“The spike in demand for fashion plastic bottles has made it much more expensive for bottlers to source recycled plastic for their bottles,” she said. “So instead of turning old bottles into new bottles over and over again, we’re actually turning those bottles into fashion products, which are then non-recyclable, so that’s not the case.” great long-term solution until we find a better way to recycle. clothing accessories.”
Today, designers are turning to incorporating new sustainable materials that go beyond the norm, whether it’s sourcing wood-based fibers for sports or replacing fishing nets. for everyday wear. In the meantime, learn more about the new – and sometimes unexpected – materials that are coming to your wardrobe.
